Oral Minoxidil Dosages for Hair Loss: A Guide

When it comes to science-backed hair loss treatments, minoxidil is something of a Swiss army knife. This effective, FDA-approved medication can treat male pattern baldness and some other types of hair loss — but taking the correct dose is essential.

You’re probably family with topical minoxidil, which comes in the form of foams or sprays. But when discussing doses, what we’re referring to is oral minoxidil, which comes in tablets.

Below, we cover the best oral minoxidil dosage for hair loss, alongside some common side effects and considerations when using it.

When used correctly, both the topical and oral forms of minoxidil can slow down hair loss. In fact, it can even stimulate hair regrowth for some.

Let’s take a look at the best oral minoxidil dosage for hair loss and then review the topical options.

Dosage of Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss

Oral minoxidil tablets are usually used to treat high blood pressure, aka hypertension.

However, some healthcare professionals may prescribe low-dose oral minoxidil off-label for hair loss. Basically, this means that even though hair loss isn’t its FDA-approved purpose, minoxidil has still been found effective for treating it.

In this case, your healthcare provider will give you specific directions on your dosage based on your unique needs.

The recommended dose of oral minoxidil for hair loss generally ranges from:

• 0.25 to 1.25 mg a day for the treatment of female pattern hair loss

• 2.50 to 5 mg a day for male pattern hair loss

The minoxidil dose for hair loss is much lower than that commonly used to treat hypertension.

Confused about your dosage? Consult with your pharmacist or the healthcare provider that prescribed it to you.

What About Topical Minoxidil?

Topical minoxidil can come as a foam or as a liquid solution. Both formulations are effective for treating hair loss.

If you use the topical solution, you’ll apply 1 milliliter (mL) to the scalp twice daily. For minoxidil foam, you should apply half a capful to your scalp twice a day. Don’t exceed this dosage unless a healthcare provider specifically tells you to.

There are different potencies of topical minoxidil. Most topical minoxidil treatments may contain 2% or 5% minoxidil, although there are some high-strength versions.

But regardless of the strength, you shouldn’t use a higher dosage than described above. A milliliter or half a capful, twice a day — that’s it.

While oral minoxidil requires a prescription, minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution are over-the-counter treatments.

Minoxidil, also known by the brand name Rogaine® in its topical form, is a vasodilator, meaning it’s a drug that widens blood vessels. While initially used as an antihypertensive, meaning it lowers blood pressure, researchers found that minoxidil also increased hair growth.

Minoxidil is one of two medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hair loss. The other is called finasteride.

Minoxidil works by stimulating blood flow to the hair follicles and pushing your hair follicles into the anagen phase, or growth phase, of the hair growth cycle.

This means that minoxidil encourages your hair to grow for a longer period. Cool, right?

As a result, minoxidil works for many types of hair loss, including:

• Androgenetic alopecia, another name for both male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss

• Alopecia areata, an autoimmune hair disorder where your immune system attacks your hair follicles

• Telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss that can be caused by severe physical and psychological stress

• Traction alopecia, which is caused by pressure on your hair follicles from tight hairstyles and rough styling techniques

There’s plenty of research to prove that oral minoxidil works for hair loss.

A 2021 review of 17 studies with 634 patients found that oral minoxidil was effective and well-tolerated for healthy people who didn’t respond well to topical formulations for treating conditions like androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, lichen planopilaris, loose anagen hair syndrome, monilethrix, alopecia areata, and permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

In a 2024, randomized controlled trial, researchers compared the efficacy of oral versus topical minoxidil for treating male pattern baldness among men aged 18-55 years old. The men were divided randomly into two groups to receive either 5 mg oral minoxidil daily with a topical placebo solution or 1 mL of 5% topical minoxidil applied twice daily with an oral placebo, for 24 weeks.

While one wasn’t necessarily better than the other, researchers did find that oral minoxidil was superior in promoting hair loss on the vertex (crown), though not on the frontal scalp.

All of this to say, if you need to use oral minoxidil, it’s an effective choice.

Why Oral Minoxidil Can Work When Topical Minoxidil Doesn’t

Topical minoxidil is known to be effective in treating hair loss.

For example, a small study found that 5% minoxidil foam was more effective than a placebo for hair regrowth at the crown (or back of the head) and the hairline.

A 48-week clinical trial compared 5% and 2% minoxidil in almost 400 men with male pattern baldness. The 5% minoxidil solution resulted in 45 percent more (and faster) hair regrowth than the 2% topical minoxidil.

However, it doesn’t work for everyone. Why?

To activate the medication from minoxidil to minoxidil sulfate in your hair follicles, you need an enzyme called sulfotransferase. And some people just don’t have it.

In this case, oral minoxidil can be a better choice.

Plus, you don’t necessarily have to choose just one — even if topical minoxidil does work but you simply want it to be even more effective for male pattern hair loss, you might consider using a combination of minoxidil and finasteride.

Hims offers a prescription-only two-in-one topical finasteride & minoxidil spray, specially developed to help slow down male pattern hair loss and boost hair density.

While minoxidil is pretty safe, it has possible adverse effects, like any drug.

When you first start taking minoxidil, you might have some temporary hair shedding. But this side effect will go away as you keep using minoxidil, so patience is key.

Although the safety of low-dose oral minoxidil is well-established, there are some possible side effects, including:

• Low blood pressure

• Edema (fluid retention or swelling)

• Hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth anywhere on the body)

• Lightheadedness

• Tachycardia (faster heart rate)

• Weight gain

In rarer cases, minoxidil tablets can cause chest pain and heart failure, as well as side effects like nightmares, insomnia, pericarditis, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, worsened hangovers, and breast tenderness.

Because it’s applied directly to your skin, topical minoxidil application can sometimes lead to other side effects, like:

• Skin irritation on the scalp

• Worsening of seborrheic dermatitis, which can cause dandruff

• Allergic contact dermatitis

• Isolated pruritus (itchy skin without an accompanying rash)

It’s always important to stick to your prescribed dosage. If you take too much minoxidil, you’re more likely to experience side effects.

If you think you’re experiencing any side effects from using minoxidil, speak with your prescribing healthcare provider or dermatologist, as they might have to lower your dosage.

Finally, what happens if you miss a day of minoxidil? While minoxidil only works for as long as you use it, skipping a day won’t do much damage. Continue using minoxidil as usual, and avoid doubling your dosage the next day.

When Should Oral Minoxidil Be Avoided?

It’s always crucial to ensure that your healthcare provider is aware of existing health conditions or medications you’re using.

This is because there are certain instances in which oral minoxidil isn’t necessarily safe to use, such as if you have:

• Severe liver disease

• Chest pain (angina) or a recent heart attack

• Left ventricular hypertrophy

• Pulmonary hypertension with mitral stenosis

• Pheochromocytoma

• Heart failure

You might be wondering, can you drink alcohol while using minoxidil?

Because minoxidil is such an effective antihypertensive, it’s a good idea to monitor and cut back on alcohol intake while you’re on it, as alcohol also lowers blood pressure.

Additionally, if you’re a regular caffeinator, pay attention to whether the combination of caffeine and minoxidil leads to heart racing or palpitations — and adjust your consumption accordingly.

Hair loss can be one of life's big curveballs, but medications like minoxidil can go a long way in helping you manage it. Minoxidil is effective at treating several types of hair loss.

• Topical minoxidil is an FDA-approved hair loss treatment. The most common topical minoxidil dosage is half a capful twice daily for foam or 1 mL twice daily in solution form.

• Oral minoxidil tablets are also effective. Some healthcare providers prescribe minoxidil off-label for treating hair loss, especially if you don’t respond to topical minoxidil.

• The dosage of oral minoxidil is a little more variable. Depending on your unique needs, your healthcare provider might prescribe 0.25 to 5 mg a day of oral minoxidil for hair loss.

When treating hair loss, it’s a good idea to chat with a professional. We can help you connect with a healthcare provider online.

They can offer some expert advice on hair loss treatments that will work for you, whether that’s oral or topical minoxidil, or another option.